Reed-protector for wind instruments.



PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907.

E. NELSON. REED PROTECTOR FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1907.

7 I1 1 witnesses Fl :10-

UNITED STATES ELMER NELSON, OF DEER LODGE,

MONTANA.

REED-PROTECTOR FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 190".

Application filed April 26,1907. S rial No- 370,364.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER N nnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deer Lodge, in the county ol Powell and State of Montana, have invented a new and usel'ul Reed-Protector for Wind Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means to be mounted adjacent to the reed of a wind instrument such as an oboe or bassoon, and its objects are,'-to provide a guard to be secured in such a manner that the lips of the performer will always be at the proper place on the mouth piece; and to provide a protecting guard which will prevent the mouth-piece being injured.

My invention consists in a concave adjustable shield mounted around the reed of a wind instrument, and particularly in the means for adjusting this shield.

vln the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a view of my improved protector attached to an oboe, and Fig. 2 the same attached to the end of the tube of a bassoon. Fig. 3 shows the standards, Fig. 4 the lip shield, Fig. 5 the adjusting screws and Fig. 6 the adjusting nuts of this protector. Fig. 7 is the upper end of an oboe provided with a collar to which my improved protector may be secured. Fig. 8 is a cap for the mouth piece. Fig. 9 is the base of the protector. Fig. 10 is another view of the lip shield.

Similar reference characters refer throughout the several views.

In the drawings, 1 is the upper end of a wind instrument such as an oboe, which is provided with a threaded collar 2. Onto this collar is screwed the ring 3 which forms the base of my improved protector, and which is provided with threaded holes into which the hollow tubular standards l engage. Shoulders 5 on the standards are adapted to insure rigidity. A lip shield 7 has secured to it the threaded rods 8 which are adapted to slide in the standards. The nuts 9 fit these threaded rods and are adapted to lie in the pockets 10 termed on the standards. The shield 7 and base 3 have openings through which the reed or mouth-piece 1] may freely extend.

it will be noticed that the shield '7 is concave, the upper and lower portions being adapted, when the into like parts strument is being played, to serve in a degree to press the lips of the musician against the reed. The shield may be moved in and out, as desired, so as to accurately determine the pitch of the reed. This protector is of greatest value however when the instrument is used on a march, as it prevents the reed from moving into and out of the mouth of the player, thus not only preventing the pitch from changing, but also relieving the player from apprehension of accidents.

When not in use, the cap 12 may be slipped over the reed, the split lower end 14 of the cap fitting the opening in the shield 7 and wedging therein.

While this protector is especially adapted for obocs, it may also be mounted on the end of the mouth piece 13 of the tube of a bassoon. The various parts of this protector should. be made as light as is consistent; with strength. As there is nothing to contact with the reed, the protector will not interfere with the full effectiveness of the instrument.

Having now explained my improvements, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mouth piece or reed protector for wind in struments, the combination of a base, tubular standards mounted thereon and provided with pockets, adjusting nuts mounted in said pockets, screw-threaded rods slidably mounted in the tubular standards and adapted to be longitudinally adjusted in the same by means of said nuts, and a concave shield mounted on the ends of said rods, the mouth piece or reed of the instrument extending freely through openings in said shield and base.

2. In a protector, the combination with the mouth piece of a reed instrument, of an adjustable shield, rods supporting the shield, means to adjust the rods, tubular standards to support the rods and the adjusting means and means to support the standards.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of a mouth piece comprising a reed, a perforated shield to extend around the same near its end, and means connected to the instrument to adjust and secure the shield in predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this petition in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELMER NELSON. 

